Feel crazily lucky to have lived out my dream: Shane Watson bids adieu

Watson, after making his international debut in 2002, went on to represent Australia in 59 Tests, 190 ODIs and 58 T20Is and scored over 14,000 runs. Apart from that, he also scalped 291 international wickets. He bid adieu to international cricket in 2016.

New Delhi: Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson on Tuesday announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.

"As one amazing chapter closes, another very exciting one opens. I am forever grateful for everyone who was so good to me and helped me realise that dreams do come through. Now onto the next exciting chapter...," he wrote along with a video titled 'My retire announcement'.

• This closing chapter is going to be so hard to top, but I am going to try.
  I truly am forever grateful to have lived this amazing dream.
  Now onto the next exciting one...#thankyou https://t.co/Og8aiBcWpE

  — Shane Watson (@ShaneRWatson33) November 3, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  This closing chapter is going to be so hard to top, but I am going to try.
  I truly am forever grateful to have lived this amazing dream.
  Now onto the next exciting one...#thankyou https://t.co/Og8aiBcWpE

  — Shane Watson (@ShaneRWatson33) November 3, 2020

  ">

  This closing chapter is going to be so hard to top, but I am going to try.
  I truly am forever grateful to have lived this amazing dream.
  Now onto the next exciting one...#thankyou https://t.co/Og8aiBcWpE

  — Shane Watson (@ShaneRWatson33) November 3, 2020

Watson, after making his international debut in 2002, went on to represent Australia in 59 Tests, 190 ODIs and 58 T20Is and scored over 14,000 runs. Apart from that, he also scalped 291 international wickets. He bid adieu to international cricket in 2016.

"It all started out as a dream. As a young kid, watching a Test match when I was five years old, I told my mum that I want to play cricket for Australia. And now as I officially announce my retirement from all forms of cricket, I feel crazily lucky to have lived out my dream," Watson said in the video.

• "I'm just so grateful, the last three years have been one of the highlights of my career." Watto's farewell message to the super fans. #ThankYouWattoMan 🦁💛@ShaneRWatson33 #WhistlePodu #Yellove pic.twitter.com/NYppMFbOJM

  — Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) November 3, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  "I'm just so grateful, the last three years have been one of the highlights of my career." Watto's farewell message to the super fans. #ThankYouWattoMan 🦁💛@ShaneRWatson33 #WhistlePodu #Yellove pic.twitter.com/NYppMFbOJM

  — Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) November 3, 2020

  ">

  "I'm just so grateful, the last three years have been one of the highlights of my career." Watto's farewell message to the super fans. #ThankYouWattoMan 🦁💛@ShaneRWatson33 #WhistlePodu #Yellove pic.twitter.com/NYppMFbOJM

  — Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) November 3, 2020

Besides, Watson played 145 matches in the Indian Premier League, representing three franchises - Rajasthan Royals (78 games), Royal Challengers Bangalore (24) and Chennai Super Kings (43). He was part of two title-winning teams -- RR in 2008 and for CSK in 2018. He also won two Man of the Tournament Awards in 2008 and 2013.

He tallied 3,874 runs, scored at a strike-rate of 137.91, and slammed four centuries and 21 half-centuries, besides capturing 92 wickets, including a hat-trick.

• 🧢 59 Tests, 190 ODIs, 58 T20Is
  💥 10,950 international runs
  🏅 Player of the Tournament at 2012 T20WC
  🏆 2007 and 2015 ICC Men's CWC champion
  
  🇦🇺 Australian legend Shane Watson has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
  
  Thanks for the memories, Shane 🙌 pic.twitter.com/9gQELTn724

  — ICC (@ICC) November 3, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  🧢 59 Tests, 190 ODIs, 58 T20Is
  💥 10,950 international runs
  🏅 Player of the Tournament at 2012 T20WC
  🏆 2007 and 2015 ICC Men's CWC champion
  
  🇦🇺 Australian legend Shane Watson has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
  
  Thanks for the memories, Shane 🙌 pic.twitter.com/9gQELTn724

  — ICC (@ICC) November 3, 2020

  ">

  🧢 59 Tests, 190 ODIs, 58 T20Is
  💥 10,950 international runs
  🏅 Player of the Tournament at 2012 T20WC
  🏆 2007 and 2015 ICC Men's CWC champion
  
  🇦🇺 Australian legend Shane Watson has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
  
  Thanks for the memories, Shane 🙌 pic.twitter.com/9gQELTn724

  — ICC (@ICC) November 3, 2020

"It really does feel like a right time, knowing that I played my last game of cricket ever for my beloved CSK, who have been so incredibly good to me over the last three years," said Watson.

"To think that I am finishing my playing career as a 39-year-old, I feel so ridiculously fortunate," he added.